What did you say???

Reading: Numbers 3 and Luke 23

Scripture: ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:39-40, One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Thought: there is an old saying that a man’s last words gold. The words of great value we would think of Christ’s lasts words and the effort that it would take to even say them. I thought it was interesting that these two thieves were using these breaths that would have cost them dearly to take in to argue over who Jesus was, the pain and anguish it would have put them through to push themselves up using the nail in their feet to release enough strain on their arms and chest to take a couple breaths just to argue. When it comes to Christ there was the thief who mocked and the me who believed. We are just at guilty at those thieves are we going to be the one mocking someone or are we going to proclaim Christ through the pain and to the end?

Prayer: Father God, you are worthy of it all, you have created it all, you own it all and you are worth all my life. I thank you that you saw my worthy of redemption and have bought me out of my sin. I ask that you continue wot lead me and guide me, that mold me and refine me. I ask that you help me to remove the old faulty foundation of my life and help me to rebuild start anew. 

What are you lacking?

Reading: Numbers 2 and Luke 22

Scripture: Luke 22:35, And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”

Thoughts: I have been easily distracted by the extra finances that God has blessed my family with. We have had our ups and downs and have had times of plenty and times of scarcity, I feel like we just came out of a time of want into a time of plenty, and I am being asked to recall that I have lacked nothing even when I was off work for a couple months, we had more than enough. The next verses Jesus tells the disciples that now they can take extra money and swords because there is going to be adversity coming. When we are seeking God and walking out his plan there will be adversity, no matter if it is from a person or group apposing us or if we are finding ourselves with opportunities to be tempted or fall into sin, there will be something trying to stop us. That is why we need that sword. Let us always remember to take up the sword that God has given to us.

Prayer: Father God, you are the provider, you are the protector, you aren’t the one who owns it all and over comes it all. I thank you that you are taking care of us and that you are leading and guiding us. Thank you that you are molding and refining me into the man you have called. I still struggle and need your refining and the growth you have for me. I ask that you lead me in all that I do, help me to grow in my love for you and the strength to overcome the temptations that are surrounding me.

What have I done now,

Reading: Leviticus 20-21 and Luke 16

Scripture: Luke 16:15, And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Thoughts: Jesus talking to the Pharisees, these religious elitists, telling them to stop judging themselves by others and by how good they present themselves because God knows everything they do in secret. It is the same for us, we present ourselves with perfect lives and we have it all together, we don’t make mistakes or fall down, just look at my Facebook and Instagram. No matter how pretty of a picture we paint for others to see, God still knows the mess we have made and the dark and dirty things in us. What are we hiding? Of those things in our live that are being hidden, who are trying to hide them from? We all have a purpose and are called to something greater that what we think we are capable of. Let us lay down those things that we are holding onto and find the release from the things we hold ourselves to and let God speak life into us. Let us stop looking to the world for acceptance and exaltation and seek the one who can raise up for eternity and not just for a fleeting moment.

Pray: Lord God, you are the one who leads us and guide us, you know the hairs on my head, the chains that I hold onto and the things I have burdened myself down with. I thank you that you are the light and that you are my strength, you are the power that flows through me and calls me into a greater authority. I thank you that you are working in me, you are molding me and refining me that I can be the man you have called me to. I ask that you help me to see the places in my life where I have things to let go of, places that need your help and strength to overcome. Help me to root our any lies that I have built my life on that I can grow in your truth. 

The old is good?!?!?!?

Reading: Exodus 40, Leviticus 1, and Luke 5

Scripture: Luke‬ ‭5:38-39‬, But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, “The old is good.”‭‬‬

Thoughts: As I read this morning, the saying here at the end of Luke 1 really stood out to me. “The old is good,” there is something in almost every one of us that says “I don’t like change,” the comfort of what we know can cloud us to the benefits of the opportunity that comes with change. I know in my life there are chains and strong holds that I struggle to let go and strive for the change that we are called to. In my strength I can do nothing I would sit and drink my old wine of sin and never know the grace and peace of the new wine of Jahovah Uzzi, The Lord my strength. Are we going to surrender our old wine and wineskin to the one who can give us the strength and power to overcome those strong holds and throw those chains away?

Prayer: Father God, you are my strength, you are my comfort in times of need and you own the cattle on a thousand hills. You are the provider of all things you lead and guide us, you give us the strength and abilities to overcome all adversity, even when it does not look like what I think it should. I thank you for all that you do, the provisions that you give us, the blessings you pour out on us, and the refining and molding you are doing in each of us. 

Called out

Reading: Exodus 38-39 and Luke 4

Scripture: Luke 4:33-34, And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Thoughts: I never noticed that this man with the unclean spirit was in the synagogue on the sabbath, in the presence of the awesome power of the Son of God, this spirit could not keep quiet and was compelled to yell at Jesus. There are many thoughts and beliefs throughout the global Church on the demons and spirits, I have seen manifestation of people who are being oppressed and tormented but something not of this world. Through out the Word we see time like this where spirits recognize and call out Jesus for who he is before he has made himself know. We need to be aware there is a spiritual world and it is a raging war. Let us not be caught too far to one side or the other, ether saying there are not spirits or daemons, or getting to the point where we are blaming everything that is bad on the daemons and spirits around us. 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful. I thank you that you pour your spirit of discernment onto us, that you lead us and guide us. I thank you that you are molding me and refining me. I ask that you help us to have an open heart and mind to the leading of your spirit and the schemes of the evil one. I ask that you lead me and guide me all my days. 

I can do it my self!!!

Reading: Exodus 18-19 and Romans 8

Scripture: Exodus 18:13-14, The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”

Thoughts: We have all had those moment when we say to someone or even just to ourselves, “I will just do it myself.” There are many situations where deciding to do it yourself is a valid options but most of the time when we say it is when someone it not doing something to your standards or fast enough for you. Just this weekend I spent my time doing little building projects with my kids. My 7-year-old daughter built a bird house, and my 5-year-old son built a wood racecar. There were lots of times where I wanted to take the hammer and nails away from them and just do it, because they didn’t know how, they are weaker and inexperienced in swinging a hammer, so they were very slow. If I would have taken over and just put them together, they would not be proud of these projects and they would not have learned anything. Moses was being the judge for Israel and not letting the people learn and grow but setting up the levels of judges and Moses was working himself into an early grave. We need to take the advice of Jethro and not take on every burden and every thing out there. Not only are we not called to carry the burdens of the world and do it all ourselves, along with our brothers and sisters in Christ, God has said that we are not going in alone we have Holy Spirit with us whom that Lord will channel his power through. 

Prayer: Father God, you are our wise councilor, you are the rally point, and the strength to overcome. I thank you that you are here with me every day, that you sent your son to pay the price that I can have the opportunity to walk with you as Adam once did. I thank you that you are here molding me and refining me into that man you have called. I thank you that you called the all and will equip those willing to step out and walk in that calling. 

It is coming!!!

Reading: Genesis 37-38 and Acts 20

Scripture: Acts 20:22-23, And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Thoughts: It has been my experience, and has been throughout the Bible that when we are given a direction and call from God, we tend to get of find opposition. When I heard God say to go pray for my aunt, I found all sorts of opposition within myself. Some were I had not talk to my aunt in years, I didn’t really feel like driving 300 mile one way, and it was a work day. Paul was set to go to Jerusalem and all along his trip everyone kept telling him that he was heading to prison and affliction. We may not be going to face imprisonment and affliction the way Paul did, but like Paul we have a calling to share the Gospel every were we go, and sometime we have a specific call like me to my aunt. I got to be a part of God healing my aunt because I listened despite all the thoughts and obstacles I saw. What have you been putting off and is it time to take that step? 

Prayer: Lord God you are the one who lead me and guides me. You own the cattle on a thousand hill, you created and love all, yet you still know me and the hairs on my head. I thank you that you are hear with me and leading me and guiding me. I thank you that you are molding and refining me every day. I thank you for you provisions and blessing that you pour out on us to steward. I thank you for the ability and opportunity to steward my family. I ask that you help me to continue to listen and walk the path you call me to. That you help me see the next steps as you promised when you said “I am the light to your path” 

I didn't know I didn't know

Reading: Genesis 36 and Acts 19

Scripture: Acts 19:2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Thoughts: Growing up I was part of a church that didn’t really teach on Holy Spirit or the spiritual gifts. I spent most of my life thinking of Holy Spirit as my super natural Jiminy Cricket that was to keep me from getting too far from God. In a way I was like these men who didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit in that my understanding of him was not a full understanding. When we read the Word of God are we seeing the miracles and gifts in the early church and say well that was for them or are we walking in the gifts and authority that are promised in the scriptures. We have to make our own choices on if we are going to believe that these gifts and authorities apply to us today or not. I have seen miracles, and I have seen the proper uses of prophesy and tongues. I have also seen hokes and misuse of these gifts but when you hear Holy Spirit saying “Go Pray for that person.” and when you do you see that miracle it changes you as much as it changes those who were prayed for. 

Prayer: Father God, you have all authority, you have all power and all things are yours. I thank you that you call us to steward that authority and allow us to ask in your Son’s name for the miracles and wonders that you are calling us to. I thank you that you are continuing to grow me and prune me, shaping me into the man you called me to be. I thank you that you have allowed me to steward my family and the blessings you have for us. I ask that you continue to speak to my spirit and to my soul, lead me and guide me in all that I do. 

Taken aside

Reading: Genesis 34-35 and Acts 18

Scripture: Acts 18:26, He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Thoughts: Later in the Bible we hear about an Apollos again in correlation with people arguing over who taught them and who was in the right. Here He was found teaching accurately yet only know the baptism of John, in his research he had not found the last pieces of information. Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and taught him so that he would have a full and accurate understanding. There are many times when I have been wrong or misinformed, and there are times where I have heard the inaccuracies of someone, the question is not who is in the right but how it is approached. Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside, they didn’t debate, or berate him publicly, they didn’t call him names or cancel him, they probably sat down with him over a meal and talked about the information they both had so that it can all be accurate. Are we having discussions about where our information is different or are we just pointing fingers and canceling one another? 

Prayer: Father God, you are the truth, and in you there is no falsehood. I thank you that you are leading us and guiding teaching us and giving us discernment. I ask that you continue to refine me and mold me into the man you call me to be. I ask that grant me the ability to communicate well and seek the truth that comes from you. 

Buying them off

Reading: Genesis 32-33 and Acts 17

Scripture: Genesis 32:20, and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”

Thoughts: Whether it is with God, family, friends, or coworkers, we are going to offend, wrong, or otherwise have conflicts with others. In my life I have seen that so many people when trying to smooth out a conflict or disagreement, we have this tendency to use gifts, Jacob several thousand years ago was doing that very same thing trying to fix the bad blood between him and his brother. How often do we trying to get God to sweep things under the table by offering some sort of gift, those hail Mary prayers that sound something like, “I will go to church every week for the rest of my life if you only get me out of this.” Are we doing as Paul says in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” or are we going to just try to smooth it over with gifts? I feel we are fooling nobody especially God. Let us seek God and seek to live sharing His love and grace to those around us instead of trying to buy off someone. 

Prayer: Lord God you are the one who owns all things, you know all things. I thank you that you allow me to steward a small portion of what you have. I thank you that you sent your Son to bridge the gap that sin created between us. I thank you that you are molding me and refining me into the man you have called. I ask that you help me to live peaceably with others, to not seek to smooth things over with gifts, but to grow in relationship through your peace and love. Help me to be a beacon of light in this dark world. 

Called into a new adventure.

Reading: Genesis 31 and Acts 16

Scripture: Acts 16:9-10, And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Thoughts: I don’t know about you but it is easy for me to not listen when God is calling. In Pop culture there are many examples of people being called into this adventure or that destiny. Alex Rogan from The Last Starfighter, Ender Wiggin from Ender’s Game, and Luke Skywalker, all thrust into or call into this destiny. Paul had a Call in the form of a dream that a man from Macedonia was calling to come over there. Paul not only had a desire to go to what they called Asia at the time, to when he had the dream to go, it says that he “immediately sought to go”. When we hear God, are we excited and ready to head into the wild blue yonder that we have been called to or are we finding excuses that we can’t go? Are we saying equip me Lord I’ll go, here I am send me, or are we saying I can’t do that I’m not trained I don’t know how, I’m not able? We are called to a greatness in the kingdom of God, it will look different to each of us, we need to listen to God and his leading because we are called to save the World. 

Prayer: Father God, you are the one who leads and guides us, you know what is to come and what part we can play in overcoming the evil one. You own all things and allow us to steward your creation. I thank you that you are working in me, leading and guiding, molding and refining me. I ask that you help me to hear your voice and heed the calling that you are placing on my life. 

Stop trubbling them!!!

Reading: Genesis 29-30 and Acts 15

Scripture: Acts 15:19-20, Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

Thoughts: So often we focus on the long lists of don’ts, the sins and temptations that we are to avoid as Christ followers. We all have sinned in one way or another, we all have baggage that we have brought into our relationship with God. James was reminding the early Christians that the burden of all the “laws” that had developed over the years since Moses received the law and even the law itself was unobtainable except by one person Jesus. It is easy to say stop sinning and come to church, but that is what drives so many people from the church. A quote that has been attributed to many, “A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” We are to encourage and build up, we have been given the responsibility to be an iron that helps to sharpen others. Let us not just give a list of dos and don’ts but walk with our brothers and sisters in mutual growth. We are all in the same hospital we may have different afflictions, but we all have growth and healing to go through. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who calls us and lead us. I thank you for that calling and the growth that you bring to us. I thank you that you are leading and guiding us, that you are molding and refining us every day. I ask that you help me to be the iron you have called me to be. Help me to be sharpened as I help sharpen others. Open my heart to your leading and help me to focus more on you. 

Bless who?

Reading: Job 32-33, Psalm 61 and John 21

 

Scripture: Psalm 61:6-7, Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

 

Thoughts: listening to the way David wrote this Psalm it would seem that is was written when he was being perused by king Saul. When you have some pursuing you and trying to kill you, how many of us want to bless that person that is pursuing us? It is not in our nature to bless our enemies. Not only do we have these examples of David who is call a man after God’s own heart but Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek and to go the extra mile. Where is your extra mile?

 

Prayer: Father God, you are above all things, and created all things. You own the cattle on a thousand hills, and I thank you that you allow me to steward a portion of it. I thank you that you are always working in my life, leading and guiding me, molding and refining me. Open my heart to hear whom you want me to bless in your name and to go the extra mile for. Open my heart and mind the your leading and creative in me a man after your own heart. 

Practice makes .....

Reading: Job 13-14 and John 12

Scripture: John 12:49-50, For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.

Thoughts: This morning I was reading Moments with You by Denis and Barbra Rainey, and in todays Devotion they talked about writing a deed to your life and signing it over to God, and in doing so that we need to work on being selfless and when we sign it all over to God we work on doing all things that would show his authority in our lives. Then at the end of chapter 12 Jesus says he is only speaking and doing what the father say and does. When we take the time to release our selfish desires and seek the Father and listen to him, we start acting more like the Father. Yes, we will mess up, Yes, we will fall back into our selfishness, but with practiced listening and choosing God and His ways we will less often fall into those temptations. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33) 

Prayer: Father God you are the one who created it all, your grace and mercy abounds. You own the cattle on a thousand hills and you know the hairs on my head. I thank you that you are molding and refining me every day. In this time of change from one year to another, from one job to another, and from one way of thinking to another, I ask that you lead me and guide me, I ask that you help me to find the rhythm of life and that you are remaining my focus, and any place where you are being replaced in my priorities be put into it’s proper place and that you are the first in my life. 

Who sinned?????

Reading: Job 7-8 and John 9

Scripture: John 9:3, Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.  

Thoughts: One of the great and terrible questions that get brought to Christians is, “why does God let bad things happen?” Normally my answer it because we live in a fallen world and are given free will, and because we being called to by the sin and there are those who live in that sin there is evil in this world. Also this man who was blind from birth being thought of ether his parents sinning or he sinned in the womb. Jesus said that neither are true but he was born this way not to suffer but to show God’s glory. I have heard Romans 8:28 quoted to just say it will all work out, or God has a reason for this. Sure the sins in the world around us and the free will of the world bring all sorts of pain and hurt into our  lives, but it is how we walk though the situation and how we are showing God’s love through it all. We all have sinned no matter if it was a little white lie or you have killed hundreds we all have fallen short and need the redemption of Jesus Christ. The situation you are in may or may not be of your own making but when you release it to God and seek him he will help you to be restored. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you know the hairs on my head and the day of my life. You are the one who knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you that you are working in me that you are molding and refining me every day, that I may grow into deeper understanding. I ask that you help me to walk though my situations and to over come the struggles of living in a fallen world.